Writing Excuses 8.28: Your First Contract

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Writing Excuses 8.28: Your First Contract

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2013/07/14/writing-excuses-8-28-your-first-contract/

Key Points: You are in a business, and you need to be aware of what is in your contracts. Remember that you have bargaining ground, because the publisher wants your work. You do not actually sell your book, you sell licensing rights to print the book in a specific format and market. First, check the reversion of rights clause! Watch for "term of copyright" which says the publisher owns your book for the life of the copyright. This may be okay IF the reversion clause is good. Make sure that you are only selling the rights you want to sell them. Grant of rights should not claim everything forever. It should be reasonably delimited. Come back later for more on the mysteries of contracts, and always remember to schick your Brit.
( The party of the first part and the... )

[Howard] I want you to write, as part of whatever story you're working on, a contract that is horrible and magical in nature.
[Brandon] Sweet. What a great prompt. That's way better than mine last week. I'm jealous. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, because your writing prompt is awesome.